Deepāvali, also known as Diwāli, is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus celebrated over 5 days with lighting of lamps, fireworks, and decorations. It marks the victory of good over evil and the new year according to the Hindu calendar. Various stories are associated with each day, such as defeating demons Narakasura and King Bali. Lakshmi Puja is the main day where Goddess Lakshmi symbolizing wealth, prosperity and fortune is worshipped through lighting of lamps.
Deepāvali, also known as Diwāli, is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus celebrated over 5 days with lighting of lamps, fireworks, and decorations. It marks the victory of good over evil and the new year according to the Hindu calendar. Various stories are associated with each day, such as defeating demons Narakasura and King Bali. Lakshmi Puja is the main day where Goddess Lakshmi symbolizing wealth, prosperity and fortune is worshipped through lighting of lamps.
Deepāvali, also known as Diwāli, is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus celebrated over 5 days with lighting of lamps, fireworks, and decorations. It marks the victory of good over evil and the new year according to the Hindu calendar. Various stories are associated with each day, such as defeating demons Narakasura and King Bali. Lakshmi Puja is the main day where Goddess Lakshmi symbolizing wealth, prosperity and fortune is worshipped through lighting of lamps.
Shreya Mishra Std 5th Deepāvali • Also known as Diwāli
• Literal meaning, a row of lamps
• One of the biggest festival of Hindus
• Celebrated all over India
– In Kenya, Thailand, Trinidad and in many more countries The festival of Lights • Celebrated for 5 days
• Customs vary but lighting
lamps is common
• Fireworks, Rangoli, Lamps
• Lights, Sparkles, Glitters!
Dhana-trayodashi • Dhanteras, Yama Deepdān
• 13th day of Kārtika month
• Houses, business premises decorated
• Auspicious to buy gold, silver, new
utensils
• Lamps lit and kept burning all night
• Cattles adorned and worshipped in
villages Dhana-trayodashi - Stories • Son of King Hima, as per horoscope, was doomed to die on this night
• His wife did not allow him to sleep
• She kept all ornaments, gold, silver at
the entrance of the room
• Yama, God of death, gets blinded by
the dazzle of brilliant lights and leaves
• Hence, the tradition of buying gold and
the name Yama Deepdān Narak-chaturdashi • Chhoti Diwāli, or little Diwāli
• Falls on 14th day of Kārtika
month
• Tradition is to get very early and
have an oil bath before the sunrise
• Earthen lamps are lit
Narak-chaturdashi - Stories • Narakāsur, the demon king of Prāgjyotishpur, was killed by Lord Krishna
• After defeating the demon, Krishna
returned early in the morning and had scented oil bath
• King Bali was pushed to
pātāl, or nether regions, by Vāmanāvatār Lakshmi Pujā • Diwāli, Kaumudi Mahotsam
• Amāvasyā, or no moon night
• Day of Lakshmi, the Goddess of
wealth
• Millions of lamps lit
• Amāvasyā becomes brighter than
Poornimā, or full moon night Lakshmi Pujā - Stories • Lot of stories associated with this day
• Lord Rāma return to Ayodhyā after
defeating Rāvana
• Lord Krishna delivers knowledge of Gitā
to Arjuna
• Lord Krishna also attains “nirvāna” this
day
• Nachiketa attains knowledge from Yama
and returns back to earth Bali Padya • Pādwa, Varsha Pratipadā, Govardhan Pujā, Annakoot
• In northern part of India, the
hill of Govardhan is worshipped
• Annakoot, meaning “mountain
of food”, is observed for all deities
• Variety of sweets are made and
shared among all Bali Padya - Stories • Vikramāditya the great, held his coronation and started a hindu calendar, vikram samvat
• Lord Krishna, uprooted Govardhan hill
and held it up to save residents of Gokul from rains
• Bali came back from pātāl and
given boon to return from nether regions once a year Bhāi Dooj • Bhāv Beej, Bhāi Tika, Yama Dwiteeyā
• Sisters put tilak on forehead of brothers
and wish for their success
• Originates from the legend that Yama
went to see his sister Yami on this day
• Yama announced that anyone who
receives tilak from his sister this day, will never suffer More on Diwāli • Sikh also celebrate Diwāli to commemorate return of 6th Guru, Guru Hargobind from captivity
• Lord Mahāvir, who
established Jainism, obtained nirvāna on this day Significance of Diwāli